School libraries

ABOUT SCHOOL LIBRARIES

There are more than 9,000 schools in Australia. Almost all schools have a library of some description, but they vary enormously in terms of staffing, facilities and resources. At the lower end, there are schools with a few shelves of books and a member of staff whose responsibility it is to look after them, as part of a much wider teaching or administration role. At the high end, there are flagship library and IT hubs, with more than a dozen members of staff. Several of the team will be qualified teacher librarians. They will have a growing collection of print and ebooks and provide a range of services to students, including safer online experiences, group learning and study spaces, and more electronic resources.

ALIA SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIES

ALIA and our school library association colleagues have been lobbying for a greater investment in school libraries and library professionals, to ensure that all students are supported to develop document, prose, information and digital literacy skills.

The ALIA Schools Group operates out of Victoria and has a highly active role in shaping the Association’s activities and campaigns for this sector. The group not only advises on policy, but also runs regular professional development sessions and provides opportunities for members to participate as volunteers for events and advocacy.

ALIA advocates for school libraries at a national, state and local level.